CAUGHT: Howell Police arrest man who followed woman into home Thursday

Howell Police have caught the man suspected of an attempted home invasion on Thursday.

19-year old Tristan Reyes was arrested by Howell Police Friday and charged with two counts each of 1st degree robbery (2C:15-1a(2)), 3rd degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes (2C:39-4d), 3rd degree unlawful possession of a weapon and 4th degree stalking, according to Detective Sergeant Christian Antunez.

Reyes followed the 38-year old woman to her home in the Ramtown section around 12:00 pm.

When she saw a suspicious looking black van parked outside she alerted her neighbors.

Upon further review and a glance at her home surveillance she saw Reyes following her into her neighborhood.

As she was unloading groceries in the open garage and going back and forth into the home, Reyes approached the house discreetly in an effort to try and avoid being seen.

Police say he then lurked around the side of the house peering into the open garage door.

He was then chased off the property by the woman's Rottweiler who began barking for the suspect to sprint to his mini-van and drive off.

Tristan Reyes . (Howell Township Police Department)

Reyes is also accused of stalking two women in separate incidents, police say, where he followed them home and robbed them at knifepoint.

The first occurred on February 24 around 8:00pm when police say Reyes followed an 18 year-old female out of her car and into the Howell Shoprite.

He continued following the unsuspecting woman around the store.

When she left Reyes followed her to her car.

When she left the parking lot in her vehicle she spotted the Reyes following her so she began to make several unnecessary turns to see if the vehicle would continue to follow her.

It did.

When she pulled over, he pulled and shut the lights off.

Reyes kept following the woman to her home prompting her to call her father.

The woman’s father attempted to confront Reyes in the street but he sped off.

Reyes followed the second victim from one store to another on Route 9 in Howell then back to her home and police believe he was planning on robbing the two women at knife point.

Police say Reyes has followed other women, possibly at the Freehold Raceway Mall, around stores and back to their vehicles.

He was transported to Monmouth County Correctional Institute today.

Investigators are seeking additional information about Reyes’ activities and looking to identify other possible victims.

They've positively identified two.

"The Howell Police Department expresses our gratitude to those who left comments on our social media and all who offered assistance including the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and New Jersey State Police ROIC," Antunez said on behalf of Howell PD.

It is important to remember, charges are merely accusations. The defendant is not guilty until proven so through the judicial system.